Chapter 222: Aurum Midas

A few minutes earlier...

The group had just finished climbing several flights of stairs and was now walking down the hallway of the City Hall.

Regis glanced to his side and noticed Aurelia trembling slightly.

Was it nervousness? Excitement?

Maybe a bit of both.

He leaned toward her and whispered, "Why are you still wearing your gloves? You don’t need them anymore, right?"

"Hm?" Aurelia flinched slightly, then turned to him with a smile.

"Well, yes... thanks to you. But..."

She gently caressed her gloved hands and arms.

"I don’t know. Maybe I’ve grown attached to them? They were the first gift my dad gave me after I awakened, after all."

Regis was right.

Ever since they had formed the contract, Aurelia had gained full control over her gift; she could now choose when to activate it.

In other words, anything she touched would not spontaneously turn to gold anymore.

Even so, she still chose to wear the gloves her father had given her.

She vividly remembered how he’d pulled every string, called every contact he had, just to acquire Edipsium— the rare material known to nullify energy— and had it crafted into a custom pair of gloves by a skilled dwarven artisan.

Those white gloves had once protected her from her uncontrollable gift.

And at the same time, they were a symbol of her father’s love.

Before long, the group came to a stop in front of a door bearing the name: Aurum Midas.

"Are you ready?" Killian asked.

Aurelia giggled, "Why do you look more nervous than I do?"

Just then, she felt someone grip her hand.

She turned and saw Pandora, who stood silently beside her, expressionless, eyes fixed on the door.

Aurelia’s smile softened, "Thank you, Pandora."

Pandora gave a small nod.

Just as Aurelia had comforted her earlier when the elves had stared at her so openly, Pandora now wanted to return that kindness.

Words were not her strength, but she had learned that a simple, firm handhold could say just as much.

It had comforted her once, and now, she hoped it would do the same for Aurelia.

Vesper then opened the door.

The room inside was unexpectedly simple.

Sunlight streamed in through a large window behind the desk, casting a bright glow that partially obscured the man seated there.

Still, his brilliant golden eyes shone clearly, untouched by the backlight.

He looked to be in his early forties.

His neatly combed black hair was streaked with gray and white—a testament to the many years of experience behind him.

He wore a light brown, collared, long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves folded up to his elbows, paired with a dark brown vest.

His hands, like Vesper’s, were covered in white gloves.

"Sir Aurum, your daughter and her company are here."

Vesper announced as he stepped aside to let the group enter.

The stern expression on Aurum’s face immediately melted the moment he laid eyes on Aurelia.

Thud—

His hands slammed on the desk as he shot to his feet.

A storm of emotions flickered across his face; worry, relief, and longing all surging to the surface.

"Aurelia? Is that really you?"

Aurelia’s lips trembled as she instinctively took a step forward, "Dad?"

Whoosh—

Aurum dashed forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, crouching slightly to match her height.

Vesper smiled at the heartwarming scene.

"I’ll be standing outside. Call me if you need anything."

He said softly, then quietly stepped out and closed the door behind him.

"Uh—" Regis was about to speak, but Vesper was already gone.

He had already gone out of the room and closed the door behind him.

’Well, this is awkward...’

He could not help but feel out of place.

Killian leaned toward him and whispered, "Shouldn’t we give them some time alone?"

"I think so too." Regis muttered, scratching the back of his head.

Meanwhile, Pandora stood still, her eyes fixed on the reunion before them.

’So that’s what a father is supposed to be like, huh?’

A quiet ache stirred in her chest as she watched the kind of relationship she had never known.

The scene before her felt foreign, yet somehow comforting.

Just then, she felt someone gently tug her wrist.

It was Regis, giving her a comically exaggerated expression as if trying to signal an escape plan.

Pandora nearly giggled.

Her heart, which had been heavy moments before, softened at the sight of the one person who mattered most to her.

She did not need to understand what he was saying; she just nodded and followed his lead.

But just as the three were about to make their stealthy exit—

"Wait."

Regis, Pandora, and Killian all froze mid-step, slowly turning their heads toward the voice like guilty children caught sneaking out.

There stood Aurum, his dignified expression back in place, eyes focused seriously on them.

Aurelia let out a laugh, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with one finger, "Haha, what are you guys doing?"

"I apologize for losing my composure."

Aurum said, bowing his head slightly, "It’s been a long time since I last saw my daughter, after all."

"It’s alright, Sir." Regis replied, clearing his throat and straightening his posture.

The other two quickly followed suit.

A gentle smile bloomed on Aurum’s face as he stepped forward and gestured toward the cushioned seats arranged in front of his desk.

"Please, have a seat. We’ll be talking for quite a while."

Regis, Pandora, and Killian exchanged glances before moving to sit, while Aurelia giggled softly at the sight of them trying to act proper.

A minute or two later, they were all settled on the long couch, a low table placed between them and Aurum, who sat alone on the opposite side.

The seating arrangement was as follows: Aurelia took the far right, followed by Pandora, then Regis, with Killian on the left end.

Aurum observed them with a warm expression before asking, "Would you like something to drink?"

Regis glanced at Killian, Pandora, and finally Aurelia.

Seeing them each give a small shake of the head, he turned back to Aurum.

"Thank you for your concern, Sir Aurum, but we’re fine for now."

"Very well, but before we talk about your journey, let me ask you something else first."

Aurum gave a slight nod and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his hands beneath his chin.

"You’re Regis, right? The party leader of the Decadence Tea Party?"

Regis’s face tightened as he cringed at the name, one he had not heard in a long time.

He wanted to glare at Killian but decided it would be terribly rude to do so in front of Aurum.

Meanwhile, Killian avoided his gaze entirely, his eyes darting around, feigning interest in the wall and ceiling.

Pandora wore a faint smile, while Aurelia gently covered her mouth, stifling her giggles.

"Yes, Sir."

Regis responded a moment later with a straight face and serious tone, as if his earlier reaction had never happened.

Aurum narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Then, weren’t you curious why the initial quest you were given lacked so many details?"

"Of course I was. It’s my life, and the lives of my comrades, on the line. Taking on a quest far beyond our skill level would have been reckless."

He paused for a moment, and Aurum’s expression shifted slightly, showing subtle interest.

"However..."

Regis continued, "Our situation at Corelli Fortress at the time wasn’t exactly ideal. We needed an excuse to get out, even just for a while."

"We also did our own research to assess the risks involved."

"And finally, what made us commit to it was the name tied to the request—Midas Merchant Organization."

He spoke at a steady pace, his voice clear and calm.

"Hmmm..."

As Regis finished, Aurum closed his eyes and let out a low hum through his nose, as if lost in thought.

’Interesting... When I first reviewed the documents about them, I thought they were just a group of promising adventurers.’

Aurum had been investigating the adventurer parties stationed at Corelli Fortress while selecting who would accompany his daughter on her journey outside.

He had used his connections for the task—after all, it concerned his daughter’s safety.

’But seeing them in person now... I must say, they’re something else.’

Especially the boy with blood red eyes who met his golden gaze without the slightest trace of nervousness.

’The documents said he wasn’t even of noble birth. So where did he learn to compose and carry himself like that?’

"Ahem."

Aurum cleared his throat, brushing aside the unnecessary thoughts.

"Alright. I’ll fill you in on the missing details of the quest once you’ve told me everything that happened on your journey."

He leaned back into the couch, his expression attentive.

But Regis did not begin immediately.

Instead, he looked at Aurelia, who gave a small nod in response.

Only then did he begin to recount the events—from their departure from Corelli Fortress, their journey through Falkor Valley and Vistruk Swamp, to their encounters with liches and the demon, and finally their arrival at Bakurad Fortress.

He then spoke of what transpired within the fortress and of Larkson’s connection to the demonic worshippers.

Of course, Regis left out certain details, such as the nature of his demonic power and the contract he had formed with Aurelia.

As he listened, Aurum’s expression shifted through a range of reactions.